Plant World

Trees and Shrubs

From where do frankincense and myrrh originate?

Frankincense is an aromatic gum resin obtained by tapping the trunks of trees belonging to the genus Boswellia. The milky resin hardens when exposed to the air, forming irregularly shaped granules—the form in which frankincense is usually marketed and sold. Also called olibanum, frankincense is used as an ingredient in many different products, including pharmaceuticals, perfumes, fixatives, fumigants, and incense. Myrrh comes from a tree of the genus Commiphora, native to the northeastern region of Africa and the Middle East. Myrrh is also a resin obtained from trees; it is used in pharmaceuticals, perfumes, and toothpastes.